12 Angry Men

Last week I saw the classic movie 12 Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda. I heard about this old flick from my friend Paxton, who enjoyed it.

Nearly the entire movie takes place in a small room populated by, you guessed it, twelve angry men. These men are jurors in a murder trial. A young man's life hangs in the balance, after he's accused of murdering his own father. The evidence is all circumstancial, but it all points decidedly at the son. At stake? The young man will face the electric chair if found guilty. But the verdict must be unanimous.

It looks to be an open and shut case, with a brief jury deliberation. As the initial vote is taken, the first eleven, one by one, confirm their "guilty" opinion, and I'm wondering if this may be the shortest movie in the history of life. But, of course, there is a dissenter, played by Fonda. He asks questions, casts doubt, and opens the eyes of the other jurors. There are many tense battles, as evidence is reconsidered, and alternate possibilities explained.

It's a good, not a great, movie. One of my favorite themes that permeates this film is this: it's important, vital, to keep an open mind, even in the face of seemingly indisputable evidence to the contrary. It's okay to doubt, to ask questions, and not be certain of the answers. That theme comes through loud and clear in this film. It's worth a viewing. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Here's the trailer.